Dishwasher Dos And Don’ts: 11 Dishwasher Tips To Know

Given the amount of household chore drama that revolves around loading and unloading the dishwasher, the dishwasher dos and don’ts in this post could help settle many domestic disputes! These dishwasher tips are things I’ve learned throughout my long blogging career, from how to clean a dishwasher to what you shouldn’t put in the dishwasher.

The left image shows a dishwasher filled with pots and utensils, while the right displays a detergent pod snug in its dispenser. A hand prominently holds a

In addition to sharing these useful “dos and don’ts” in this post, I’ve also created printable and mobile-friendly guides you can download to keep these tips handy. (You’ll find the links to download those further down this post.)

Jillee’s Take:

After receiving several requests from readers for a dishwasher guide, I decided my best option was to focus on general tips and tricks that anyone could use. To find more specific guidance about your own dishwasher, I recommend referring to its user manual (or looking it up online, if you can’t find the paper copy!)
Dishwasher with the door open, loaded with dishes.

11 Dos And Don’ts Of Dishwashers

1. Don’t Add Extra Detergent

Too much detergent can leave a residue, so use no more than the recommended amount. (My homemade dishwasher detergent recipe is an effective and inexpensive option!)

2. Do Watch Out For Spray Arms

Before starting your dishwasher, rotate the spray arms to ensure they can spin freely and won’t get caught on larger dishes.

3. Don’t Bother To Pre-Rinse

Modern dishwashers are built to handle most cooked-on food. Additionally, dishwasher detergents work best when there’s a certain amount of food residue present on the dishes.

Loaded dishwasher racks

4. Do Put The Sturdiest And Dirtiest Items On The Bottom Rack

Plates, pots, and pans benefit from being positioned at the bottom of the dishwasher where the water is the hottest and most direct.

5. Do Look For The “Dishwasher Safe” Icon

There isn’t a standardized icon to indicate that dishes are dishwasher-safe, but many resemble an open dishwasher. (See the printable guide for an example.) If a dish bears a dishwasher-like icon with an X through it, you can safely assume it’s not dishwasher-safe.

6. Do Handwash These Items

You should always hand-wash large kitchen knives; dishes made of brass, bronze, or wood; china with gold leaf; and non-stick cookware and bakeware. When in doubt, hand-washing is always the safest option!

7. Don’t Overcrowd

Don’t crowd your dishes so closely that the water spray can’t get to them — otherwise, you may need to wash them all again!

A bowl of vinegar in the top rack of the dishwasher helps prevent spots from hard water in the dishwasher.

8. Do Put Plastics And Glassware On The Top Rack

The water spray is cooler and gentler on the top rack, so that’s where more delicate items should go. Check the dish or glass bottom to be sure.

9. Don’t Stack Items

While you might save a bit of space, the items underneath won’t get clean. You can lean items against each other, but don’t put dishes directly on top of each other.

10. Do Stagger Silverware

If your silverware faces the same way, the utensils can nest together and water won’t be able to get to them. To prevent this, load half of your utensils with the handle up and the rest with the handle down.

11. Don’t Spill Dry Detergent On Flatware

Dry detergent can react with metal and leave dark spots on your flatware.

dishwasher

Download The Printable Guide

Use the links below to download my dishwasher guide as a printable PDF, a mobile-friendly image file, or both!

“Do’s and Don’ts of Dishwashers” Printable Guide

Click the button below to download a printable PDF file of my “Do’s and Don’ts of Dishwashers” guide.

Dos and don'ts of using a dishwasher.

Download The PDF

“Do’s and Don’ts of Dishwashers” Mobile Guide

Download a mobile-friendly image file of my “Do’s and Don’ts of Dishwashers” guide.

Dishwasher do's and don'ts: A comprehensive guide.

Download The Mobile Guide

BONUS: 8 More Useful Dishwasher Tips

1. Clean Your Sponges

Wash your kitchen sponge or dish brush once a week in the utensil compartment of your dishwasher to kill bacteria and prevent the growth of mold and mildew.

A bottle of Dawn dish soap, a large container of white vinegar, and a small bottle of lemon essential oil are placed on the countertop, ready for your next Dawn Powerwash recipe.

2. “Pre-Treat” Heavily Soiled Dishes

A dish spray can “pre-treat” heavily soiled dishes to help ensure that your dishwasher gets them completely clean. You can make a DIY Dawn Powerwash spray by combining water, white vinegar, dish soap, and a couple of drops of lemon essential oil. Spray it onto grimy baking pans, wait for a few minutes, then lightly rinse the pan and load it into your dishwasher.

3. Check For Rinse Aid

Check to see if your dishwasher detergent formula includes rinse aids. If it does, you may not need to use rinse aid elsewhere in your dishwasher.

4. Clean The Spray Arms

If your dishes aren’t coming out as clean as you’d like, try using a toothpick to clean out the small holes along your dishwasher’s spray arms. This will help remove any gunk blocking the spray and ideally lead to cleaner dishes.

Dishwasher bottom rack loaded with pans and flatware.

5. Unload From The Bottom

When unloading your dishes, start with the bottom rack first. That way, any not-quite-dry dishes in the top rack won’t drip all over the dishes in the bottom rack.

6. Clean Your Dishwasher Regularly

Keeping your dishwasher clean is one of the best ways to keep it running efficiently. Regular cleaning will go a long way to prevent a clogged drain or a dirty filter. 

7. Put Detergent Pods In The Detergent Compartment

Regardless of what you’ve read or watched online, the best place to put dishwasher tabs is in your dishwasher’s detergent compartment. Most dishwasher wash cycles begin with a rinse, so if you put detergent pods or tabs in the bottom of the dishwasher, they may dissolve before the real cleaning begins.

Dishwasher rack with silk flowers, flip flops, and tools in it.

8. Clean More Than Dishes

From knickknacks to hairbrushes and tools, you might be surprised by all the things you can clean in your dishwasher

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Effectively Load My Dishwasher?

A couple of factors you should consider when loading your dishwasher are the location and spacing of the dishes. Large, sturdy items like dinner plates and cookware should go upside down in the bottom rack, while small or delicate items go in the top rack. Additionally, avoid overfilling your dishwasher, which can hinder its effectiveness.

Why Is It Important To Clean My Dishwasher Regularly?

Keeping your dishwasher clean eliminates greasy buildup detergent residue to keep the machine running smoothly. A clean dishwasher means clean dishes!

What Should I Do If I Notice A Clog In My Dishwasher?

If you notice your dishwasher isn’t draining properly, check the bottom of your dishwasher for debris. If you don’t find anything, your next step is to remove and examine the filter (see your dishwasher user manual for details). Grimy filters are often the source of drainage issues, but it’s nothing a bit of soap and warm water can’t fix!

Conclusion

Your dishwasher is one of the hardest-working appliances in your home, and taking care of it by using it correctly will ensure years of stellar service and sparkling dishes. Follow these dos and don’ts for dishwashers to keep yours in great condition!

What’s your best dishwasher tip?

Read This Next


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Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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29 Comments

  1. I used to refurbish/repair old dishwashers by the dozens that were replaced for various reasons, so believe me when you read what I am posting here. All to many of them still had plenty of life left in them.They just need some tlc or a minor repair/part replacement here and there. Rule 1 is to not use your dishwasher as a garbage disposal. Remove any debris that won’t dissolve in water before putting the dishes in the dishwasher. That means no bones, meat scraps, jar labels, small plastic bits, nails, screws, jewelry, hairpins, etc (yes, i have found all of those and more in dishwasher that I worked on). Have a sprayer on you sink? Use it. Rule 2 is to put 2 or 3 DROPS of dish detergent in the soap cups before adding the dishwasher soap. This will help to remove greases and oils and send them more easily down the drain, and will also help to keep your drain line clean. Rule 3 is to run the hot water in your sink before starting the dishwasher so you are not trying to wash the dishes with the cold water in the pipies between the dishwasher and water heater. Rule 4 is turn on the heat booster on the dishwasher if your machine has one. Water heaters are supposed to be set at 120 degrees (ours is at 110), and that is just not hot enough to clean your dishes. The heat booster will heat the water to 140 to 145 degrees so that the soap will work better and get the dishes cleaner. And speaking of soap, do not trust the tablets or pods with built in rinse agents to do the job of keeping your dishes spot free. Rinse agent should be dispensed in the rinse cycle, not the wash cycle, which is precisely what is happening when you use the pods or tablets, as they dissole completely in the wash cycle, so there’s nothing left when the rinse cycle starts. Their included rinse agent is then just washed down the drain when the machine empties its water at the end of the wash cycle, so it accomplishes precisely nothing. Have a rinse agent tank on the soap dispenser? Use it and keep it full. Rule 6 .Have a stinky dishwasher? Have a filter screen in the bottom of your dishwasher? Take it out and clean it off after each wash, otherwise that food debris just sits in there rotting and creating a stench. And finally, Rule 5. If you are going to be available when the dishwasher is finished running, don’t waste power on having the dish dryer run to dry the dishes. Just open the door and the residual heat will dry those dishes in just a very few minutes and allow them to cool so you can handle them without burning your fingers while putting them away. This also allows the dishwasher tank itself to dry, so less chance of stinky odors from that, too.

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  2. Putting a sponge is the dishwasher is, at best, ineffective and at worst, just adds more dirt to the sponge that’s getting pummeled with all the dirty water.

    I think the concern over germy sponges is silly. If you use soap and water and rinse dishes, the germs go with the other dirt: down the drain.

    And if your sponges smell, it’s because you don’t ring then out when you’re done using them. Our sponges never smell and we use them until they start falling apart.

    Replacing sponges frequently to prevent germs doesn’t help. They max out on germs immediately, just like a toothbrush. Germs don’t build up each day.

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    • No matter the method used to “disinfect” the sponge (microwave, dishwasher, etc.), studies have shown the sponges with the least amount of pathogens are the ones washed and left out to become bone dry (2-3 days or more). I keep three sponges and rotate them so I know I always have one that has completely dried out between uses.

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  3. Dirty sponges? Not a problem and easy and quick. Soak your sponge in diluted bleach and water. Viola! No smell anymore and clean.

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  4. The new packets of dishwasher detergent + gel shiner are too large for my dispensers. When they automatically open the packet gets stuck, half of detergent might fall, but the plastic around gel is caught in the plastic casing that is half melted. I can’t find the original packet (without shiner) anymore. They worked fine. I am going to try the suggestion you received about putting packet in the utensil basket.

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    • Stick with gel or powdered soap and that problem will go away. Gel and powder are also more economical. I find Aldi Gel dishwasher soap to work just fine.

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  5. While you don’t need to rinse the plates completely clean, you definitely do need to scrape off all the bigger stuff – as a plumber once said to my mother in law, “It’s a dishwasher, not a bl@@#y garbage disposal”. Depending on the dishwasher, some will handle a few bits (as long as you clean the filters regularly), but others will be a nightmare.
    Make sure to clean it regularly – ALL the filters (some have a second lower filter, plus the mesh stuff on the ‘floor’ around the filters) once a week, plus monthly check and clean the spray arms, wipe the seals, etc. Tip – if the bits in the spray arms don’t come out easily (and they are removable arms), you can tape the holes shut, fill the arm with water, shake around and pour it all out again. Repeat multiple times until all the bits come out again. A pair of tweezers may also come in handy.
    I just had to clean out a dishwasher after the tenants of two years moved out – they obviously didn’t follow any of these rules, and it’s miracle that any of their dishes came out clean given how grubby the dishwasher was (even after they had run a cleaner through it). There was greasy gunk round all the seals, the filters were almost completely blocked with yet more greasy gunk, and both spray arms had multiple holes blocked with lentils and bits of plastic wrapper. It took almost an hour and a lot of cursing to get it properly clean, and even then when I ran another cleaner through it the filters needed re-cleaning. I’m going to whip up a Do’s and Don’ts list to tape inside the pantry listing things like dishwasher, oven, range hood and septic tank information in the faint hope that next time a tenant moves out I don’t have to do a years worth of basic cleaning and maintenance.

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  6. I use oxiclean ( half a scoop) in detergent cup and use white vinegar to fill the rinse aid container. I also prerinse all dishes and use the short wash cycle (1 hour) and no heated dry cycle. LOVE IT !!!!

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    • Similar. I fill 1/4 to 1/3 of the cup with citric acid, then the rest of the way with oxygen bleach. 2-3 drops dawn on top and close it up. I still use rinse aid but dilute it 50/50 with distilled water. Been doing this 20+ years. Dishes and the dishwasher still look new.

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  7. The latest research is that kitchen sponges are the single biggest germ trap and Spread those germs onto all the surfaces they are used on. Also they found that washing them in a dishwasher, even on the hottest cycle, doesn’t kill the germs as only the outside gets washed. As soon as the sponge is squeezed in use, all the germs inside pop out again.

    The advice is to throw away sponges after a week’s use at the most, or even better, not use them at all.

    I can’t understand all the fuss about washing cutlery dirty side up. Why would you want the dirty side down in the basket where it doesn’t get rinsed as well as the part above the basket? Who empties a dish washer with “grubby little paws”? Even with the handles in the basket, it is still usually possible to get hold of the stem between handle and eating end if you are that particular about a very few germs. I hope you store your cutlery in a germ free drawer!

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  8. In my last three dishwashers if I don’t prerinse my dishes don’t get clean. All three were heating the water themselves and I tried all the major brands of detergent packs.
    Also put silverware in handle up cause I don’t want hands on the eating surface. But I never knew it mattered which way up we put the detergent pack!
    And if you stack it’s the top dish that won’t get clean if it’s on top rack. That’s one my hubby still hasn’t learned. LOL
    I love this site and these are great tips

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  9. Wash hands very well before putting clean dishes away, I know it’s no brainer but my number 1 rule in my house.

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  10. I only use about half the manufacturer recommended amount of detergent and the dishes still come out squeaky clean. I use the air dry feature so as not to use extra electricity. Remember if you live in an area that offers a cheaper rate for electricity on off peak hours run your dish washer then it really adds up. I tend to run mine right before bed. That way I can take advantage of cheaper rates and find the hum of the dish washer a nice white noise too.

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  11. Hello! Great tips, thank you.

    The only one I disagree with is how the silverware are shown. Yes, I know a lot of people do it this way so the food cleans off the top and flows down the handle, etc.

    However … doing it this way means that you are now grabbing the clean silverware by part of the that goes into your mouth, adding any germs or messes on your hands to the business end of the eating utensil. And then sticking them all in the dark drawer to let them share these little nasties.

    This works great if
    1. No one is or is getting sick, especially the person emptying the dishwasher
    2. No one in the home has a compromised immune system
    3. Your household follows ServSafe guidelines, such as covering your face, and washing and covering your hands before unloading the dishwasher, preparing or serving food, and so on. But most of us don’t do that

    Also, I’d like to address a prior commenter’s suggestion on putting sponges and such in he dishwasher. Sadly, this is an outdated “good practice” recently proven to be ineffective, same as microwaving them. The bleaching and changing daily is definitely safer.

    Unfortunately, the environmentally unfriendly method of frequently using fresh paper towels spreads germs and ickies the least.

    Or follow the ServSafe guidelines even at home can really help, especially if you have someone with a compromised immune system, such as a cancer survivor or organ transplant recipient. This means we also always use the sanitation cycle.

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    • Actually, I read the article and saw the sponge idea in the body, as well. Earlier I just looked at the graphic … sorry about that.

      Also in the body of the post, I see that the power pack shows the liquid detergent “up”. This doesn’t work well when the water isn’t hot enough to fully melt the gelpack, such as
      older models that don’t heat the water themselves, or your hot water heater isn’t on high enough, such as when living with someone with a scalding risk such as an infant or aging parent.

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      • My appliances repair man cousin said to run the hot water in your sink before you start the dishwasher. He also said to put the gel pack or dishwasher tablet in the utensil holder and not in the dispenser. Works for me.

    • I agree with you completely regarding the silverware. Always wash silverware with the handles sticking up so your dirty little hands grab the handles and not the part you put in your mouth. It is just common sense especially around cold and flu season.

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      • That’s why you’re supposed to wash your hands before handling clean dishes. That is common sense.

      • Don’t take chances in the flu season by grabbing eating utensils (even with freshly washed hands and I hope everyone washes before handling clean dishes). An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But then I hope that people wash their hands before filling the ice trays too! That is common sense!

      • By dirty little hands I should have made it clear I was referring to my son emptying the dishwasher. He is 12 and I have watched him wash his hands, start to unload the washer and then pick his butt. He is not the most sanitary person but he tries.

  12. Could you do some hints on the proper way to use a garbage disposal? I’m going to be getting one and want to make sure I don’t mistreat it. Thanks.

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    • NEVER put potato peelings in it. After 2 consecutive Thanksgivings of needing to clean the pipes I learned my lesson. Carrot peels can be a problem, too. I rarely use my disposer to minimize problems with it. Most food (which isn’t much to begin with) goes into the trash.

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      • If you compost food that was going to be put in the trash it is like gold to gardeners.

      • I have vermiculite in the basement. They’ look like some of the happiest little worms on the planet.

        The basement is actually a good place because the temperature stays pretty much the same year round, and there are some really nice ones these days that don’t stick up the place.

        I use the worm factory and am very happy with it.

      • Vermiculture. Thank you, Otto Karect

    • That’s a great idea for a future post, thanks Paula!

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  13. I put my kitchen sponge in the washing machine with the tea towels, cleaning cloths, plastic scourers, etc. on a hot wash and the sponge comes out looking pretty good and no smell.

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    • I put those in my bleach load. And I change them daily.

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29 Comments

  1. I used to refurbish/repair old dishwashers by the dozens that were replaced for various reasons, so believe me when you read what I am posting here. All to many of them still had plenty of life left in them.They just need some tlc or a minor repair/part replacement here and there. Rule 1 is to not use your dishwasher as a garbage disposal. Remove any debris that won’t dissolve in water before putting the dishes in the dishwasher. That means no bones, meat scraps, jar labels, small plastic bits, nails, screws, jewelry, hairpins, etc (yes, i have found all of those and more in dishwasher that I worked on). Have a sprayer on you sink? Use it. Rule 2 is to put 2 or 3 DROPS of dish detergent in the soap cups before adding the dishwasher soap. This will help to remove greases and oils and send them more easily down the drain, and will also help to keep your drain line clean. Rule 3 is to run the hot water in your sink before starting the dishwasher so you are not trying to wash the dishes with the cold water in the pipies between the dishwasher and water heater. Rule 4 is turn on the heat booster on the dishwasher if your machine has one. Water heaters are supposed to be set at 120 degrees (ours is at 110), and that is just not hot enough to clean your dishes. The heat booster will heat the water to 140 to 145 degrees so that the soap will work better and get the dishes cleaner. And speaking of soap, do not trust the tablets or pods with built in rinse agents to do the job of keeping your dishes spot free. Rinse agent should be dispensed in the rinse cycle, not the wash cycle, which is precisely what is happening when you use the pods or tablets, as they dissole completely in the wash cycle, so there’s nothing left when the rinse cycle starts. Their included rinse agent is then just washed down the drain when the machine empties its water at the end of the wash cycle, so it accomplishes precisely nothing. Have a rinse agent tank on the soap dispenser? Use it and keep it full. Rule 6 .Have a stinky dishwasher? Have a filter screen in the bottom of your dishwasher? Take it out and clean it off after each wash, otherwise that food debris just sits in there rotting and creating a stench. And finally, Rule 5. If you are going to be available when the dishwasher is finished running, don’t waste power on having the dish dryer run to dry the dishes. Just open the door and the residual heat will dry those dishes in just a very few minutes and allow them to cool so you can handle them without burning your fingers while putting them away. This also allows the dishwasher tank itself to dry, so less chance of stinky odors from that, too.

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  2. Putting a sponge is the dishwasher is, at best, ineffective and at worst, just adds more dirt to the sponge that’s getting pummeled with all the dirty water.

    I think the concern over germy sponges is silly. If you use soap and water and rinse dishes, the germs go with the other dirt: down the drain.

    And if your sponges smell, it’s because you don’t ring then out when you’re done using them. Our sponges never smell and we use them until they start falling apart.

    Replacing sponges frequently to prevent germs doesn’t help. They max out on germs immediately, just like a toothbrush. Germs don’t build up each day.

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    • No matter the method used to “disinfect” the sponge (microwave, dishwasher, etc.), studies have shown the sponges with the least amount of pathogens are the ones washed and left out to become bone dry (2-3 days or more). I keep three sponges and rotate them so I know I always have one that has completely dried out between uses.

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  3. Dirty sponges? Not a problem and easy and quick. Soak your sponge in diluted bleach and water. Viola! No smell anymore and clean.

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  4. The new packets of dishwasher detergent + gel shiner are too large for my dispensers. When they automatically open the packet gets stuck, half of detergent might fall, but the plastic around gel is caught in the plastic casing that is half melted. I can’t find the original packet (without shiner) anymore. They worked fine. I am going to try the suggestion you received about putting packet in the utensil basket.

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    • Stick with gel or powdered soap and that problem will go away. Gel and powder are also more economical. I find Aldi Gel dishwasher soap to work just fine.

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  5. While you don’t need to rinse the plates completely clean, you definitely do need to scrape off all the bigger stuff – as a plumber once said to my mother in law, “It’s a dishwasher, not a bl@@#y garbage disposal”. Depending on the dishwasher, some will handle a few bits (as long as you clean the filters regularly), but others will be a nightmare.
    Make sure to clean it regularly – ALL the filters (some have a second lower filter, plus the mesh stuff on the ‘floor’ around the filters) once a week, plus monthly check and clean the spray arms, wipe the seals, etc. Tip – if the bits in the spray arms don’t come out easily (and they are removable arms), you can tape the holes shut, fill the arm with water, shake around and pour it all out again. Repeat multiple times until all the bits come out again. A pair of tweezers may also come in handy.
    I just had to clean out a dishwasher after the tenants of two years moved out – they obviously didn’t follow any of these rules, and it’s miracle that any of their dishes came out clean given how grubby the dishwasher was (even after they had run a cleaner through it). There was greasy gunk round all the seals, the filters were almost completely blocked with yet more greasy gunk, and both spray arms had multiple holes blocked with lentils and bits of plastic wrapper. It took almost an hour and a lot of cursing to get it properly clean, and even then when I ran another cleaner through it the filters needed re-cleaning. I’m going to whip up a Do’s and Don’ts list to tape inside the pantry listing things like dishwasher, oven, range hood and septic tank information in the faint hope that next time a tenant moves out I don’t have to do a years worth of basic cleaning and maintenance.

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  6. I use oxiclean ( half a scoop) in detergent cup and use white vinegar to fill the rinse aid container. I also prerinse all dishes and use the short wash cycle (1 hour) and no heated dry cycle. LOVE IT !!!!

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    • Similar. I fill 1/4 to 1/3 of the cup with citric acid, then the rest of the way with oxygen bleach. 2-3 drops dawn on top and close it up. I still use rinse aid but dilute it 50/50 with distilled water. Been doing this 20+ years. Dishes and the dishwasher still look new.

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  7. The latest research is that kitchen sponges are the single biggest germ trap and Spread those germs onto all the surfaces they are used on. Also they found that washing them in a dishwasher, even on the hottest cycle, doesn’t kill the germs as only the outside gets washed. As soon as the sponge is squeezed in use, all the germs inside pop out again.

    The advice is to throw away sponges after a week’s use at the most, or even better, not use them at all.

    I can’t understand all the fuss about washing cutlery dirty side up. Why would you want the dirty side down in the basket where it doesn’t get rinsed as well as the part above the basket? Who empties a dish washer with “grubby little paws”? Even with the handles in the basket, it is still usually possible to get hold of the stem between handle and eating end if you are that particular about a very few germs. I hope you store your cutlery in a germ free drawer!

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  8. In my last three dishwashers if I don’t prerinse my dishes don’t get clean. All three were heating the water themselves and I tried all the major brands of detergent packs.
    Also put silverware in handle up cause I don’t want hands on the eating surface. But I never knew it mattered which way up we put the detergent pack!
    And if you stack it’s the top dish that won’t get clean if it’s on top rack. That’s one my hubby still hasn’t learned. LOL
    I love this site and these are great tips

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  9. Wash hands very well before putting clean dishes away, I know it’s no brainer but my number 1 rule in my house.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  10. I only use about half the manufacturer recommended amount of detergent and the dishes still come out squeaky clean. I use the air dry feature so as not to use extra electricity. Remember if you live in an area that offers a cheaper rate for electricity on off peak hours run your dish washer then it really adds up. I tend to run mine right before bed. That way I can take advantage of cheaper rates and find the hum of the dish washer a nice white noise too.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  11. Hello! Great tips, thank you.

    The only one I disagree with is how the silverware are shown. Yes, I know a lot of people do it this way so the food cleans off the top and flows down the handle, etc.

    However … doing it this way means that you are now grabbing the clean silverware by part of the that goes into your mouth, adding any germs or messes on your hands to the business end of the eating utensil. And then sticking them all in the dark drawer to let them share these little nasties.

    This works great if
    1. No one is or is getting sick, especially the person emptying the dishwasher
    2. No one in the home has a compromised immune system
    3. Your household follows ServSafe guidelines, such as covering your face, and washing and covering your hands before unloading the dishwasher, preparing or serving food, and so on. But most of us don’t do that

    Also, I’d like to address a prior commenter’s suggestion on putting sponges and such in he dishwasher. Sadly, this is an outdated “good practice” recently proven to be ineffective, same as microwaving them. The bleaching and changing daily is definitely safer.

    Unfortunately, the environmentally unfriendly method of frequently using fresh paper towels spreads germs and ickies the least.

    Or follow the ServSafe guidelines even at home can really help, especially if you have someone with a compromised immune system, such as a cancer survivor or organ transplant recipient. This means we also always use the sanitation cycle.

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    • Actually, I read the article and saw the sponge idea in the body, as well. Earlier I just looked at the graphic … sorry about that.

      Also in the body of the post, I see that the power pack shows the liquid detergent “up”. This doesn’t work well when the water isn’t hot enough to fully melt the gelpack, such as
      older models that don’t heat the water themselves, or your hot water heater isn’t on high enough, such as when living with someone with a scalding risk such as an infant or aging parent.

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      • My appliances repair man cousin said to run the hot water in your sink before you start the dishwasher. He also said to put the gel pack or dishwasher tablet in the utensil holder and not in the dispenser. Works for me.

    • I agree with you completely regarding the silverware. Always wash silverware with the handles sticking up so your dirty little hands grab the handles and not the part you put in your mouth. It is just common sense especially around cold and flu season.

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      • That’s why you’re supposed to wash your hands before handling clean dishes. That is common sense.

      • Don’t take chances in the flu season by grabbing eating utensils (even with freshly washed hands and I hope everyone washes before handling clean dishes). An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But then I hope that people wash their hands before filling the ice trays too! That is common sense!

      • By dirty little hands I should have made it clear I was referring to my son emptying the dishwasher. He is 12 and I have watched him wash his hands, start to unload the washer and then pick his butt. He is not the most sanitary person but he tries.

  12. Could you do some hints on the proper way to use a garbage disposal? I’m going to be getting one and want to make sure I don’t mistreat it. Thanks.

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    • NEVER put potato peelings in it. After 2 consecutive Thanksgivings of needing to clean the pipes I learned my lesson. Carrot peels can be a problem, too. I rarely use my disposer to minimize problems with it. Most food (which isn’t much to begin with) goes into the trash.

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      • If you compost food that was going to be put in the trash it is like gold to gardeners.

      • I have vermiculite in the basement. They’ look like some of the happiest little worms on the planet.

        The basement is actually a good place because the temperature stays pretty much the same year round, and there are some really nice ones these days that don’t stick up the place.

        I use the worm factory and am very happy with it.

      • Vermiculture. Thank you, Otto Karect

    • That’s a great idea for a future post, thanks Paula!

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  13. I put my kitchen sponge in the washing machine with the tea towels, cleaning cloths, plastic scourers, etc. on a hot wash and the sponge comes out looking pretty good and no smell.

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    • I put those in my bleach load. And I change them daily.

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